Wentz Weekly: Carson shakes off early rust to lead Eagles to victory
By Jake Starr
The Philadelphia Eagles now sit at 9-1 following their 37-9 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night. Here’s how Carson Wentz performed in Dallas.
Another Sunday and another Philadelphia Eagles victory. This win coming in dominant fashion as the Eagles topped the Dallas Cowboys 37-9 to move a full four games up on Dallas in the NFC East.
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In a matchup of two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL in Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, Wentz came out on top. Carson finished the night 14-27 for 168 yards, two touchdowns, and zero picks.
While the numbers were not extraordinary, Wentz once again did what he had to do to win the game and did a great job of bouncing back after a very poor first half. This Eagles team showed that no matter how many shots it takes early on, it has the firepower to still dominate teams and eventually put them away.
The night started off very fast for Wentz and the Eagles offense. After getting the ball following a Dallas field goal, Wentz and company marched down the field on an eight-play 75-yard scoring drive. Carson was 4-for-4 passing on that opening drive with a very impressive throw to Kenjon Barner to set up his rushing touchdown on the very next play.
After that impressive opening drive, the Eagles offense and Wentz really struggled. In their six final possession of the half, they managed zero points, and two of those possessions came off of turnovers in plus territory.
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Going into the halftime break, it became fair to wonder if the Eagles were leaving the door open for Dallas to take advantage. The Eagles would need to come out in the second half and put Dallas away, and that is just what they did.
Following halftime, the Eagles were able to put together three consecutive touchdown drives, all but ending Dallas’ hopes for winning the game. The Eagles reestablished the running game, and Wentz was able to regain his MVP form.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Wentz completed a huge third and one pass to Brent Celek; a play that began to shift all of the momentum in the Eagles favor. After that huge conversion, Wentz and the Eagles offense did not look back. That drive ended with a Corey Clement rushing touchdown, and then Wentz hit Clement on a screen for the two-point conversion.
Carson Wentz's 25 Pass TD are the third-most by a 1st-or-2nd-year quarterback in a team's first 10 games of a season in NFL history (via @EliasSports). pic.twitter.com/fnwUCClmoa
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 20, 2017
The next Eagles touchdown was set up by a 71 yard run by Jay Ajayi. Three plays after that run, on third and six, Wentz made an impressive play by stepping up and sliding right and fit a tight throw to Torrey Smith for the score. At the time, that throw looked to be Carson’s most impressive of the night, but that would change on the next possession.
Looking to put the Cowboys away, Wentz led an eleven play drive that spanned five minutes and 48 seconds that concluded with the play of the night from Wentz and the Eagles.
With no Jake Elliott, the Eagles were forced to go for it on fourth and five, and Wentz fired a ball in such a tight window to Alshon Jeffery who made an extremely impressive catch. That play put the Eagles up 29-9 and all but sealed any hopes of a Dallas comeback. After a strip sack that led to a touchdown, the Eagles cruised to a 37-9 victory.
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On Sunday night we all saw what makes this Eagles team so good. They just have so much firepower on offense that if the opposition fails to capitalize early on, then the Eagles will have no problem putting them away. We have now seen this week after week and it is why the Eagles lead the pack in the NFC.
Wentz was not great, but he showed impressive poise, and after an efficient second half, he has his team at 9-1 and continues to lead the race for NFL MVP. It seems no matter the stage, Wentz is ready to play and has turned in one impressive game after another. Carson continues to show all the traits that make him such a special quarterback.
Next: 3 takeaways from Philadelphia Eagles 37-9 win over Dallas Cowboys in Week 11
In what could turn into a classic rivalry, Wentz had the edge over Prescott on Sunday night and will look to continue his stellar play against Chicago this Sunday in Philadelphia.